Mr THOMAS GEORGE: My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Training. Given that the department has quoted $3 million to build six classrooms for Wyrallah Road Public School under the Building the Education Revolution Program—which is $500,000 per room, yet local builders have indicated that the work could be done for just over $1 million—why will the Minister not give the Federal stimulus money to local communities and builders rather than wasting most of it on management fees and bureaucracy?

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind members that a number of them are on three calls to order. I call the member for Barwon to order.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: In order to answer that question I need to talk a little bit about the different elements of the Building the Education Revolution Program. The first of these is the National School Pride Program. The first 60 per cent of the schools were announced on 5 April. This program involves the maintenance and minor refurbishment of all schools up to a maximum of $200,000. Some concerns have been raised that the schools would not be getting value for money. As the member points out, a number of schools have obtained quotes that they think represent better value than the estimates provided by contractors engaged by the Department of Education and Training. Those schools have been asked by the department to forward the quotes to their managing contractor, who will award the contract to the company that can provide a quality job for the cheapest price.

This is most important. If schools are not happy with the approach of their asset maintenance contractor to the National School Pride Program they can apply to manage the project themselves. If members have any issues I am more than happy to consider them. This ensures value for money and makes sure that the school communities get the projects they want and deserve. The bigger pot of money, the money that comes from Building the Education Revolution into the Primary Schools for the 21st Century money, will mean that New South Wales government schools should receive about $2.7 billion worth of funding by the end of the final third round. This is for school halls, libraries and classrooms in every primary school in the State, to a maximum of $3 million per school.

We have appointed managing contractors to project manage this work throughout the State. They are not engaged as builders; they do not get paid to build these halls and libraries. They get paid to manage the construction of these projects and deliver a facility that meets the department's standards and school community expectations. The contract provides them with an incentive to build quality buildings at the lowest price. They make their money if the hall, for example, is built on time and on budget. But again—and this is really pertinent and answers the member's question—if a principal has obtained a quote for a building at a low price he or she should send that quote to the managing contractor for the region. If all the quality requirements are met and it is done for a good price—and they must meet the quality requirements and probity requirements about fair tendering processes—there is a strong commercial incentive for the managing contractor to award them the tender. That is how they make their money.

What is even more important is that within the managing contractor process we have guarantees for local employment—targets for local employment, apprenticeships and traineeships. I can run individual members of the House through them. Even then there is still an option for schools. After all that process, if schools are still not satisfied and do not think that they will get value for money, we have given them an out. Schools have the option of project managing the entire project at the school themselves. They do need to apply for an exemption from the Co-ordinator General, Bob Leece. The principal will be responsible for the sorts of things that project managers normally have to be responsible for, such as occupational health and safety and workers compensation. We have given schools the option of going through the managing contractor and allowing that person to deal with the building of what are often very large and significant projects.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: Otherwise they can project manage it themselves. The Premier has already gone through this. It is tiring to see the Opposition time and again criticising the project. This money flowing from the Federal Government—

Mr Thomas George: Point of order: My point of order is relevance. Your own department—

The SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. The member for Lismore will resume his seat.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: I think I have given a very good answer about the processes involved. If the individual school would like to provide its contract I can talk to the member outside the House about it.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: Mr Speaker—

The SPEAKER: Order! What is the member's point of order?

Mr Brad Hazzard: My point of order is under Standing Order 59 in relation to debating the issue. The Minister knows that principals will be responsible if they take up that option.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wakehurst will resume his seat. That is not a point of order. The member for Wakehurst is on his final warning. The Minister has the call.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: Last but not least I would like to say that this money flowing to New South Wales, the money that we will see coming to every primary school in our State—the $4.9 billion that is going to flow over the next three years from the Federal Government—was voted against at the Federal level by the Opposition's colleagues. The member for Lismore has the temerity today to complain. If his Federal colleagues had got their own way Doubtful Creek Public School would not have received $140,000 for its new covered outdoor learning area; Doubtful Creek Public School would not have received a classroom upgrade at a cost of $110,000; Afterlee Public School would not have received a new covered outdoor learning area at a cost of $250,000; Collins Creek Public School would never have received its new covered outdoor learning area at a costs of $250,000, and neither would Eureka Public School, Wilsons Creek Public School and Rosebank Public School. All those schools in the electorate of the member for Lismore that will receive money as part of round one of the project would never have received that because their Federal colleagues voted against the package. They are builders' wreckers. They close schools; we build schools.